Breathe the Air

There is nothing quite so humbling as the sensation of being smothered.  For some reason it is something that I had not given a great deal of thought to, except for the past couple of days, when I've had the feeling more often than not.

After an undisciplined dinner (Double Whopper with Fries) I couldn't sleep at 2:00 AM and the difficulty breathing stayed with me from the night before.

For the rest of the day.

This sense that I can't breathe has come to me virtually every evening since probably September, gradually getting worse.  Instead of an after dinner drink, I simply try to breathe quietly wondering why I don't feel like I'm getting enough air; or not getting my lungs full.

Much like a few years ago when I had a tumor and didn't know it, I try to understand what I have in the moments when it is difficult. In the moments when I'm feeling good I assume rather blithely that my problems are over and I don't have to concern myself with them anymore.

At times, I'm rather short-sighted. 

But in my quieter moments, when I take a breath and it doesn't feel right I might think I have something serious, something that, like the tumor, could kill me if it  got the better of me.

But the moment passes and I'm back to being an optimist; or is that back to being an imbecile?

So, why do I feel like I can't take a good breath?  It could be a number of things but of course I don't know what it really is:

1. GERD ( Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) this was the number one option until I spent four weeks on Prilosec OTC which did nothing at all for it.  Also doesn't bother me after breakfast or lunch.  Or lying down.  Much like the last time I was incorrectly diagnosed with GERD I had no heartburn or related symptoms that should have been there.
2. This could be a heart/lung problem that has gone undiagnosed.  I will be visiting a Pulmonologist on Wednesday to see about this.  I had a breath test at my doctor's office in October as part of a physical, and an ECG the same day and both were good. I have no problem getting my heart rate up to 140-150 when I exercise, so I don't think I have a coronary artery blockage.
3. Listed side effect of Zonisamide. I think this is the winner; I just do.  This began a few months after starting the drug and got worse as the drug built up in my system. I'd like it to be this option because if it is, then my problem will go away once the drug is changed.

I sent an email to the people at the Headache Institute asking them if they could prescribe another drug without that side effect.  That would be nice.

This all stems from the treatment of some headaches that resulted from a tumor in my neck followed by three months of treatment with Revlimid to prevent recurrence.   The tumor was gone by April 2010 and the Revlimid was done by August 2010. 

But the headaches remained.  I'm taking Zonisamide for the headaches.  It works very well, except that I'm having a problem breathing.  Sometimes.